High Fidelity

Monogamous behavior in mammals

What is monogamy?

In biology, monogamy is defined as a mating system of one male and one female forming an exclusive social pair bond. It refers to a pattern of social rather than sexual organization. In a socially monogamous pair bond, the two individuals share a territory and live in cohabitation, and both individuals take care of the progeny in some way.

In layman’s terms, monogamy is usually defined as committing to a sexual relationship with only one partner, but sex has little to do with monogamy as defined by scientists. Sexual exclusivity is not part of the above criteria. Thus, biological
monogamy is defined as “how you live and not how you mate.” (Insel and Young).

Monogamy is rare in mammals

Approximately only 3-5% percent of mammals are considered monogamous (Nair and Young), compared to about 90% of birds (Alcock, 366). One model organism for the study of monogamy in mammals is the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). Using the prairie vole, this website attempts to understand the following: